Troops won’t back off from repeating 1971 war if challenged: LG

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha honouring soldiers and their kin in Jammu on Thursday.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha honouring soldiers and their kin in Jammu on Thursday.

‘Pak running factory of terror, neighbour a threat to humanity’

Won’t be deterred by militants, will make J&K Atmanirbhar

Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Dec 16: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today issued stern warning to Pakistan saying the Indian Armed Forces will not back off from repeating the 1971 war if challenged as he charged the neighbour with running factory of terror and adopting terrorism as their policy posing threat to humanity.

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He was addressing ‘Swaranim Vijay celebrations’ marking 50 years of India’s victory over Pakistan in 1971 war which resulted into surrender of 93,000 Pakistani troops on this day.
Reminding Pakistan of thrashing defeat and public surrender on December 16, 1971, Sinha said Indian troops will not back off from repeating the 1971 war if challenged.
“The neighbour is running factory of terrorism. Terror has been their policy. The neighbouring country is threat to humanity. Despite defeats in wars, it hasn’t mend its ways,” he added.
He said the neighbour is trying to destabilise J&K through proxy war but will not succeed. “Our troops will give befitting reply to them whenever required”.
He called upon the neighbour to remember crushing defeats inflicted by India in the wars of 1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999.
Asserting that India has been supporter of peace since ancient times and has never adopted the policy of expansionism despite being a super power, the Lieutenant Governor said: “We have lived the values of peaceful coexistence, mutual harmony and believed in the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam’. But, we never lowered our guard and successfully conquered every challenge”.
“We will not be deterred by terrorists. We will continue with our mission to develop Atmanirbhar Jammu Kashmir. But, we will not forget and we will not forgive those behind breeding terrorists. We are determined to completely dismantle their terror ecosystem”, Sinha asserted.
Earlier, Manoj Sinha paid homage to the martyrs of 1971 war on the occasion of 50th Vijay Diwas. He laid a floral wreath at the Balidan Stambh War Memorial here to mark the occasion and said that the unmatched gallantry of our brave hearts will continue to inspire generations to come.
“Today, I pay my tributes to the brave soldiers, officers of Army, Navy and Air Force, who exhibited amazing valour and sacrifice in the 1971 war. I bow down with reverence to all the brave hearts, who attained martyrdom in that war. Our nation will always be indebted to their supreme sacrifice”, he added.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor also paid his respects to Army Veterans and Veer Naris. While addressing all ranks, veterans and their family members, he exhorted them to carry forward the rich legacy of our armed forces.
“On this day in 1971, our brave soldiers and officers had not only changed the geography, but took a giant leap in establishing our country as a global super power”, Sinha observed.
Earlier, the Lt Governor also paid homage to the country’s first Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, his wife and all 11 officers and Jawans who attained martyrdom in an air tragedy recently.
Later, the Lt Governor released a ‘Special Cover’ and unveiled the mural of Ashok Chakra Awardee, Late ASI Babu Ram of J&K Police in presence of his family members.
Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary; Lt Gen YK Joshi, GOC-in-C Northern Command; Dilbag Singh, DGP J&K; Lt Gen PN Ananthanarayanan, GOC Rising Star Corps; Lt Gen Manjinder Singh, GOC White Knight Corps; Divisional Commissioner, Dr Raghav Langer Maj Gen Neeraj Gosain, GOC Tiger Division who were present on the occasion also laid wreath and paid homage to bravehearts.
Several Army veterans including Capt Bana Singh, Lt Col Rishma Sarin wife of Late Major Mohit Sharma and other military and civil dignitaries also paid homage to brave hearts.